England in command heading into final day of Antigua Test
Harmison was one of three England wicket-takers on the fourth day
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England took control of the third Test in Antigua as they bowled the West Indies out for 285. |  |
Wednesday, 18, Feb 2009 11:07
England will head into the final day of the third Test in Antigua needing seven wickets to complete victory over the West Indies.
Although their batsmen started slowly on day four at the Recreation Ground a sprightly 34 from Paul Collingwood helped them gain a lead of 503.
England's bowlers then picked up the vital wicket of West Indies captain Chris Gayle during the evening session to leave the hosts on 143-3.
Alastair Cook and James Anderson returned to the crease in the morning but found runs hard to come by as the West Indies tried to restrict England's scoring rate.
The pair added just 38 runs 12.4 overs bringing into question the wisdom of sending Anderson in as night-watchman the previous evening. The Lancastrian eventually edged Powell to the wicketkeeper for 20.
Owais Shah (14) wasted little time in upping the scoring rate and hit an imperious six but his eagerness to get runs cost him his wicket before lunch.
Cook (58) fell to Ryan Hinds after the interval as England looked to get themselves to a lead of 500 as quickly as possible.
That brought Kevin Pietersen (32) and Paul Collingwood together and they added a brisk 48 to the total. The Durham man was going at a run-a-ball while Pietersen provided entertainment by continually looking to execute his hallmark 'switch hit' against the spinners.
He eventually succumbed to the shot when he edged Sulieman Benn to Dinesh Ramdin behind the stumps.
England then suffered a mini collapse as they clawed their way to a second innings score of 221-8 declared – a Steve Harmison six giving them the lead of over 500 that they had desired.
The West Indies openers did well to survive without losing a wicket before the tea interval but Harmison got the breakthrough they desired after the interval.
He trapped Devon Smith (21) lbw, although replays suggested the ball may have been a little high.
Gayle (46) continued to bat with his usual exuberance at the other end but he lost his wicket to Graeme Swann who was rewarded for some brave bowling against the Windies skipper.
Stuart Broad then managed to dismiss Hinds (6) before the close of play leaving Ramnarseh Sarwan (47 not out) and Sivnarine Chanderpaul (18 not out) at the crease for the start of the final day with the West Indies still trailing by 360.